Evaluation of Five Artificial Diets for the Laboratory Rearing of Alfalfa Weevil Larvae1

Abstract
Larvae of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), were reared on 5 artificial diets containing acetone extracted alfalfa. The diets selected for investigation were: an oligidic diet containing alfalfa, clover honey, wheat germ, and agar; the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, diet developed by Earle; the European corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis (Hubner), developed by Bottger; the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), diet developed by Vanderzant; and the Vanderzant wheat-germ diet utilized by Berger for Heliothis species. Based upon adult production and larval growth rates, the wheat-germ diet was the most satisfactory with 17.7% adult production. The period of larval and pupal development was 28 and 8 days, respectively.

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